American College of Lifestyle Medicine grants scholarships aimed at decreasing health disparities related to lifestyle-related chronic diseases and promoting diversity in the workforce

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has announced the recipients of the HEAL Initiative Scholarship for 2024, recognizing 26 health equity champions who are dedicated to addressing lifestyle-related chronic diseases in underserved communities. The scholarship is awarded to clinicians who self-identify as Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Indigenous, with the goal of supporting research that shows patients from minority backgrounds have better health outcomes when their clinician shares their race and ethnicity.

Dr. Beth Frates, ACLM president and Harvard Medical School associate professor, expressed pride in funding these health equity champions, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying factors like food and housing insecurity that contribute to chronic diseases. She highlighted the awardees’ experience in treating medically underserved groups and their understanding of the need for culturally sensitive care.

Chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes disproportionately affect Black and Latino populations, making it crucial to diversify the healthcare workforce with clinicians who can provide evidence-based lifestyle medicine therapies. The HEAL Initiative Scholarship not only supports recipients in pursuing coursework and certification in lifestyle medicine but also provides them with a one-year membership in ACLM, virtual registration for the annual conference, and exam registration fees for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

In addition to these benefits, awardees are invited to join ACLM’s HEAL Initiative, a group of over 800 members from various medical specialties who are committed to promoting health equity through lifestyle medicine. The group meets six times a year to exchange ideas and innovations aimed at creating equitable health solutions with lifestyle medicine at the forefront.

The 2024 HEAL scholarship recipients come from diverse healthcare backgrounds and locations across the country. From registered nurses and physician assistants to family physicians and dietitians, these individuals are dedicated to improving the health outcomes of their communities through lifestyle medicine interventions. Some of the recipients include Andrea Edwards from Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA, Sheena Urdaz from LA Medical Associates in Wellington, FL, and Quintisha Walker from Spring Health Inc. in Saginaw, MI.

ACLM will be accepting applications for the next cohort of HEAL scholars in early 2025, continuing its commitment to supporting clinicians who are passionate about addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The organization’s mission is to advance lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a redesigned, value-based healthcare delivery system, essential for achieving whole person health and reducing chronic disease burden.

For more information about ACLM and the HEAL Initiative Scholarship, please visit lifestylemedicine.org.

Media Contact:
Stacia Johnston
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Phone: 718-974-7213
Email: [email protected]